Day 19: Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned
Jesus slowly inhales and exhales. He looks around at the disciples as they struggle to understand the teaching of the vineyard, the teaching of abiding, the teaching of staying IN Jesus, and the dire consequences of becoming detached. The night is cool, and everyone is tired from the deep conversation and wine at dinner, but it’s just like Jesus to stop and take every opportunity to teach.
The disciples sense Jesus’ urgency this evening, and, even though a sense of dread grows in their hearts, they listen closely. Jesus wraps his cloak tighter around himself, and crossing his arms, he says quietly,
“Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
He sighs as if he really didn’t want to say this.
The disciples have all seen the little fires this time of year, burning up the canes that have been cut off the vines and left to dry. The disciples exchange glances as they bristle against this thought, muttering unspoken questions under their breath. “Not us, Lord!” “We’ve walked every step with you!” “We are not cut off and we will not burn.” Jesus nods, knowing their distress, but he doesn’t soften the image.
Vineyard Metaphor
Every spring in wine country, it is not uncommon to see columns of smoke rising from different fields. The vineyard workers pruned the vines a couple months ago, leaving the canes in the middle of the rows before collecting them into large piles in an open field. The canes must dry even more before they will burn properly.
Sometimes, a vineyard manager will choose to chip up the dried canes and make mulch instead of burning them. Either way, the pruned and dried canes are of no use to the vine. They will never be fruitful again.
The image of a burning pile of dry branches is alarming and a warning.
When we are not attached to the life-giving sap of the Vine, death, dryness, and ultimately, fire is our destiny. Perhaps this seems dramatic or unkind, but the Gardener knows that the fruitfulness of the Vine depends on pruning. It depends on cutting off branches that will never again be fruitful. Good fruit only hangs on second year wood, so pruning the old canes off, makes room for the new wood and the good fruit. The Gardener’s love of the Vine, and desire for fruitfulness will always result in the justice and kindness of pruning.
Reflection and Meditation
As you sit with the image of a pile of burning branches, what sensations surface ?
Can you feel the heat? Hear the crackle of dry wood burning? Can you smell the smoke?
Is there something in your life that needs to be pruned and thrown into the fire to make room for something new?
Perhaps you are seeing an image of your life, apart from God.
Talk to God about what you are sensing. Feel the wise, loving hand of the Gardener making the necessary cuts and throwing away what is no longer fruitful. The dead branches must be cut off to make room for what is new.
Imagine what it would be like to rest in God’s presence.
“Grateful people learn to celebrate even amid life’s hard and harrowing memories because they know that pruning is no mere punishment, but preparation.”